best e30 spring and shock set up

[oldskool3]

Hey guys I am looking to buy some new springs/ struts over the winter and I am wondering what is considered the best for auto X and street. Don't mind really stiff springs as long as they aren't to outrageous. I was thinking ie 3's or H&R race's with koni's but I was wondering what other people considered good or better. Thanks alot

[asubimmer]

bilstein sports and H&R race's

[oldskool3]

no love for adjustable koni's?

After researching some more last night I am leaning more toward's the h&r's but I thought the adjustable koni's would work well with them. any reason you think bilsteins are better?

[asubimmer]

nahh no love for them. They are alright but they are more $$ than bilsteins and they don't perform as well.

[var1ant]

could you elaborate on them not performing as well?

[asubimmer]

I would but there are soooo many threads about it. In short, bilsteins self adjust to the road conditions but w/ koni's you can only adjust it for ex: a rough road or a smooth road but not both.

And it shouldn't matter if you went with IE3's or H&R race's because they are the same springs. Although iirc the IE3's are cheaper. The only way I would see it making a differance is if you wanted to spec race, which requires H&R's iirc.

[oldskool3]

I would but there are soooo many threads about it. In short, bilsteins self adjust to the road conditions but w/ koni's you can only adjust it for ex: a rough road or a smooth road but not both.

And it shouldn't matter if you went with IE3's or H&R race's because they are the same springs. Although iirc the IE3's are cheaper. The only way I would see it making a differance is if you wanted to spec race, which requires H&R's iirc.

ie's are made by eibach aren't they were as h&r's are made by h&r. i had a buddy who used to run eibachs and i found them pretty shitty. Thats why i was thinking of going races.

Ill search the bilstein/ koni difference

thanks for the help

[asubimmer]

they are made by diff people but the rates and drop are the same

[Van Westervelt]

they are made by diff people but the rates and drop are the same

Specs are the same between the two, but end result is different. I have both. The IE3's are a better balance for early models with higher arches, the H&R's are a better fit for late models, but look fine on early/late. IE3's on late models have a tendancy to sit higher in the front and lower in the rear. (reverse rake ftl) With late arches, its very annoying to some. You have an 86? You can go with either. I am an H&R whore, so obviously I say race.

[Jean]

I would but there are soooo many threads about it. In short, bilsteins self adjust to the road conditions but w/ koni's you can only adjust it for ex: a rough road or a smooth road but not both.

And it shouldn't matter if you went with IE3's or H&R race's because they are the same springs. Although iirc the IE3's are cheaper. The only way I would see it making a differance is if you wanted to spec race, which requires H&R's iirc.

Bilsteins have internal bump stops don't they ? They don't really like to be lowered too much.

I am going to be switching over to Koni adjustables next year . I've had them before and liked them.

[carnerd]

I LOVE the Bilstein sport Kit I have. I have not rode in a BMW with anything else though

[fowacee]

I love my races. Imo they're bearable for the street and they still handle amazing. Btw I've got them paired with Bilsteins.

[whiltebeitel]

IE3's and Bilstein sports. They get it done on the street and the track Erick (rwdrift) recommends them for budding drifters as well.

[PaintPro21]

I would but there are soooo many threads about it. In short, bilsteins self adjust to the road conditions but w/ koni's you can only adjust it for ex: a rough road or a smooth road but not both.

Where do you get your information from? What are you talking about that the Bilstein's self adjust for road conditions? they have a magical device that adjusts the rebound and compression rates as you drive along?

Bilstein's have a set dampening rate and that's it. The koni's come with a set compression rate for their standard shock, with the ability to adjust the rebound dampening rate. Koni also carries double adjustable shocks that allow you to adjust both. There is NO shock that just adjusts on their own, for different road surfaces. No Moton, No nothing self adjusts. koni has an FSD line of shocks that are similar to the sports, with an additional valve to allow higher flow rates when you go over a large bump (like a lip in the road surface from different levels of concrete).

If your going to spread information to somebody who's trying to select a shock, don't just say you have "no love" for them, and making up facts. It’s not productive, and will result in people passing along these ridiculous generalizations.

[Bill-B]

bilstein sports and H&R race's

i hate mine! i need coilovers!